Vera during the day the laundry room is pretty bright until about 2 or 3 in the afternnon as it is on the east side of the house so it gets the first light of day. The temp in there stays about 70 and occasionally a little warmer if I am doing lots of laundry but probably no warmer than 75 degrees. This is actually a slow growing shrub. Growing in a container it will stay smaller (2-3 ft. tall and about 2ft. wide) than if grown in ground (4-6ft tall and probably 3 ft. wide). It is very easy to grow from seed and can be pruned to grow more as a small tree or trained as a bonsai. Penny

You are probably a zone 7 on the USDA chart for winter hardiness zones. My mom and I want to see the state of Georgia. I saw it in a "drive by" kinda way enroute to Florida a couple years ago. My friends woke me up so I could see the Live oaks with moss on them all down the street we were driving down. I would love to get to visit Georgia, or even South Carolina. It sounds like you are in the more "country" part of Georgia. That would be great to see also. Well, If I ever had lots of money to just go where I wanted to, I would love to see all the east coast southern states, maybe even the Gulf coast states. I have seen enough of Florida already. I did love the town of Webster Fla. I just loved the "country-ness" of it. Lots of pastures of livestock, and old Live oaks for the cattle and horses to go under, a great fleamarket too. But, it is (like most of Florida) in a big sinkhole area, no thanks on that. I loved key West, but, it is expensive to find a home there, unless you decide to be a well....Hobo of sorts, not judging them, but, there are lots of homeless people there who get food from (guessing) nice folks who buy them a meal. Some have bikes, a couple have 3 wheeled little carts, and carry all their belongings on these carts. It is pretty interesting. I think a couple are veterans of the US armed forces, be they army, Navy, air force, or Marines. They get cared for somehow by nice people. I love Key West as a vacation spot, but it is a party place, and I am no Partier, lol. Poaky1

I said reprimand because, my hunny, told her that was rude and disrespectful and things of the like--and I didn't want him to do that at all--...I felt crushed...and I posted this...but she and I talked on the phone later that day and said she still loved me and that she was just being sill..... But this is still alarming to me..... ALSO Bio-Mom lives in a whole different state, pregnant with another kid-by another man, and only send 120 dollars a month for her 2 kids...she picks them up and drops them when she doesnt want to care for them or she is fed up being with them. But I am not trying to compete with her...i respect her as their mom...I just wished I got the respect I deserved too... personally if I wasn't with my children...and I knew there was another female around my children...I would assure to be nice to her because she's the one giving them the maternal needs I can't for whatever the reason or excuse may be for my absence. Thanks ladies for your kind words... IMAMOMMY::::::::: thank you...i appreciate that you took the time to reply and definitely being a stepmommy is not for the faint hearted. Also, the worst thing I have done is say No candy before dinner, but it doesn't get worse than that...i cant be mean to children...I am a future elementary teacher, a daycare assistant and I believe children should be treated like glass especially if they are not related to me. MOM2EMALL::::::::: thanks as well for replying to me....no my skiddies are with the daddy full time and she lives out of the state...shes like your skiddies bio-mom...she wont call for a length of time and then she'll remember that she had 2 babies... SILVERSWORD:::::::: I love your response...I think this is what I needed to read....being a friend/sm is harder..... my skiddies have not said I am not their mom...yet...but I must brace myself bc there will be a day..I know it....its only natural...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THAT LAST PARAGRAPH---IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME...:)

I have to say that I am very sad to hear that your husband not only condones this behavior, but then badmouths you to a 2 1/2 year old! My ss was a little younger than this when I entered the picture and he ALWAYS got his way with daddy. But he was never one to hurt others, just throw temper tantrums. My husband fed into this behavior and gave ss whatever he wanted. I took it for a while and finally one day I just looked at my huband and told him that my ss needed to be introduced to time-out. My ss would not stay in time-out at first, but eventually he caught on. My husband still puts up with a lot more from ss than I do (now he is 5 and he will still tell his dad he doesn't want to put his own shoes on and then throw himself on the ground and cry). He tried that with me a few times and I picked him and his shoes up and carried him to the car and buckled him up shoeless. When we got wherever we were going everyone else got out of the car and my ss had no choice but to put his shoes on. (luckily he did not know that I would never leave him alone in a car!) Now my other skids and biokid all tell my husband how my ss listens to me perfectly and does not cry for me or throw temper tantrums! So, my husband has been giving more discipline and my ss is slowly improving for his dad. My suggestion, talk to your hubby about this behavior and how dangerous it can be once your new baby is here. Do you want a 2 1/2 year old who hurts everyone else hurting a newborn? Also tell him how much it hurts you when he calls you a witch for demanding respect from a child. Children need discipline, and at his age he will continue to see just how far he can go---which seems like it may be way too far! Good luck!